Festival will draw tourism back to Bougainville

By Fideis Lucio

Bougainville’s Mona Festival was announced on Wednesday by Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Hon Michael Ogio [pictured].

Mr Ogio expressed his gratitude to Tourism Minister and Member for Paitt, Lawrence Bele, for taking the initiative to introduce this event to attract tourists.

Mona is a special and traditional type of canoe used in the past for trading.

The Mona Festival is a tourism initiative that aims to revive cultural activities to attract tourists from all over the world.

Joseph Watawi, Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry, called the launching of the Mona a humble ceremony and beginning of the tourism activity in the region which will greatly boost the economy.

Mr Watawi urged the people to break barriers and cultural secrecy to help tourism assist in the economic recovery of the Autonomous Region.

He urged the youths to do away with their attitudes and create an environment which will be attractive for tourists.

The Mona Festival will begin on the 17 December and run for three days. Monas from villages in the Hagogohe constituency will race across the famous Buka passage.

Fideis Lucio is a journalism student at Divine Word University

Comments

[TroubleZone]

Forget the Mona Festival...Give the money to the school in Nissan thats crying out for help.

Shame on you all !!

[bb]

Cut the over expensive air fares to Buka then you might get tourists.

[akai neeee]

And make sure that there is no nudity during the Mona festival, hope I can find time to visit the occassion.

airo kukah!

[CareDestinations]

Great event!
Even in crisis situation, tourism business blooms, only you have to choose right route. The 2nd Annual World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress estimates that "1.6 million American patients will travel to other countries in 2010 for medical care and treatment, doubling the numbers who traveled in 2007, and spending billions of dollars". Http://www.caredestinations.com offers new business ideas and tourist innovations.

[costa rica medical tourism]

Make a getaway to Costa Rica, even in difficult times, may represent a component of ecology and the enormous advantages of being served by excellent medical professionals in an exotic destination par excellence, which fits with the desire to look and feel better.

[viagra online]

at the present time I think that tourism under because of the crisis but has begun to rise again as the foam!

[Robert]

Go Bougainville! Go Mona Festival !!

[Medical Tourism]

Medical tourism search engine offering users the ability to compare cosmetic and medical procedure costs and reputation from clinics and hospitals worldwide.

[Maria Buka Meri]

Thank you Tourism Minister and Member for Paitt, Lawrence Bele for your initiative in The Mona Festival. Tourism is one way forward for Bougainville to achieve economic gains while respecting the culture, land and traditions.

May The Mona Festival become a permanent fixture on Bougainville's calendar and stimulate local 'brain-storming' to identify events that highlight the beauty and uniqueness of our homeland.